Automatic drain trap

ABSTRACT

An automatic drain trap for discharging liquid condensed and separated by a filter and the like in a high pressure gas such as compressed air and the like. This trap comprises a primary drain reservoir communicably connected via a drain discharge port to a secondary drain reservoir equipped with drain discharge holes; a float provided in the primary drain reservoir so as to be elevatable in said reservoir due to its buoyancy resulting from the accumulation of said drain therein; a magnetic device located on the upper surface of the float and the corresponding surface of the upper part of the primary drain reservoir, respectively, the magnetic device being adapted to further elevate with momentum the float already elevated to a predetermined position; a valve member elevatably sustained in the float so as to close ordinarily the drain discharge port, the valve member opening the discharge port under the upward pulling effect of said float when said float is rapidly elevated with momentum; and cylindrical devices located above the float and actuated by the pressure in the secondary drain reservoir, the cylindrical devices being mounted to lower the float by reserving it from the magnetic device so as to close the drain release port.

United States Patent Sonoda Oct. 14, 1975 AUTOMATIC DRAIN TRAP densedand separated by a filter and the like in a high [75} Inventor: Yoshitemsonoda Higashbosakaa pressure gas such as compressed air and the like.Th1s Japan trap comprlses a primary dram reservo1r communicablyconnected via a drain discharge port to a second- [73] Assignee: FujiKinzoku Kosaku ab shi ary drain reservoir equipped with drain dischargeKaisha, Japan holes; a float provided in the primary drain reservoir[22] Filed: Jam 30 1975 so as to be elevatable in said reservoir due toits buoyancy resultlng from the accumulatlon of said dram [2]] Appl. No:545,306 therein; a magnetic device located on the upper surface of thefloat and the corresponding surface of the 52 vs. C] 210/114; 55/219upper 9 the P r drain reservoir respectively 1 [51] Int Cl 2 l n BOID53/00 the magnetlc device being adapted to further elevate 58 Field ofSearch 210/114, 115, 121, 123, f f f the float already elevated to a210/128, 55/219 terrnmed pos1t1on; a valve member elevatably sustainedin the float so as to close ordinarily the drain 1561 CM ifisgi sosadztias 131233313 2212" UNITED STATES PATENTS float when said float israpidly elevated with momen- 2,406,214 8/1946 Garnier 55/219 X andCylindrical devices located above the fl t g g and actuated by thepressure in the secondary drain 1e en urg....

3,614,857 10/1971 Fette 55/219 reservo" the cylmdncal dev'ces bemgmounted to Primary Examiner.lohn Adee Attorney, Agent, or Firm-George B.Oujevolk lower the float by reserving it from the magnetic device so asto close the drain release port.

1 Claim, 1 Drawing Figure AUTOMATIC DRAIN TRAP This invention relates toan automatic drain trap bifurcately connected intermediately to thepiping of a fluid machine in which high pressure gas, such as compressedair and the like, is used, for discharging a liquid contained in thehigh pressure gas after condensing and separating said liquid by meansof a filter and the like.

The conventional automatic drain traps for automatically discharging aliquid condensed and separated in high pressure gas at each accumulationof the liquid in a predetermined amount comprise constructions asdescribed hereinunder.

One of the constructions is of the following type: A globular orcylindrical float is built in a drain reservoir, the float closing adischarge port under its own dead weight and the downward pressure ofthe gas when no drain flows into the reservoir from an influx hole, thefloat rising upwardly as the drain is accumulated until the dischargeport is opened for the discharge of the drain.

in the case of the foregoing construction, the apparatus is necessarilylarge-sized since the float is adapted to directly open or close thedischarge port. If the drain discharge port is diminished in size inorder to reduce the volume of the float, the port is likely to beblocked by the dust contained in the drain resulting in unsatisfactoryoperation of the apparatus.

Another construction is of the pilot type in which the drain dischargedevice is improved as compared with the foregoing type.

The construction of the pilot type also utilizes the buoyancy of thefloat by floating it in the drain. However, the float does not directlyopen or close the discharge port but opens or closes an influx hole ofthe pilot pressure, a valve being indirectly operated by said pressurethereby opening or closing the discharge port.

In the pilot type, the volume of the float is reducible by diminishingthe influx hole of the pilot pressure. However, in this case too, theinflux hole is likely to be blocked by the dust contained in the drain,unless some special device is provided, resulting in unsatisfactoryoperation of the apparatus.

As described hereinbefore, this invention relates to an automatic draintrap in which a float elevated to a predetermined level is forciblypulled further upwardly with momentum by means ofa magnet, a valvemember for closing the discharge port being elevated as a result of theforced elevation of the float so as to open said discharge port, wherebythe drain is discharged, the discharge port being closed by the floatlowered by the downward pressure of the high pressure gas.

A first object of this invention is to provide a drain trap enabling toautomatically discharge the drain when accumulated in a predeterminedamount.

A second object of this invention is to provide a drain trap in which adrain discharge port can be enlarged thereby enabling to prevent thedust or the like contained in the drain from blocking said port.

These and other objects are accomplished by the improvements,combinations and arrangements of every parts constituting thisinvention, a preferred embodiment of which is shown by way of examplesin the annexed drawing and herein described in detail.

The drawing is a longitudinal, sectional side elevation showing anembodiment of this invention.

1n the drawing, numeral 1 designates a trap body, a primary drainreservoir 2 being formed below the center within the trap body 1, asecondary drain reservoir 3 being formed below the primary drainreservoir 2, a drain discharge port 5 communicably connecting the tworeservoirs 2 and 3 being provided in the center of a partition wall 4dividing said two reservoirs 2 and 3.

Furthermore, the trap body 1 comprises a drain influx hole 6 provided inthe upper center thereof, a passage 7 connecting the drain influx hole 6to the primary drain reservoir 2, a cylinder device 8 mounted on eachside of the upper part of the body 1, and a drain release hole 9 formedon each side of the lower part of the secondary drain reservoir 3.

A float ll elevatable along a guide 10 is provided within the primarydrain reservoir 2. The float 11 is formed into a hollow constructionhaving an open bottom with an annular peripheral wall 13 provided on thelower outer peripheral edge of a disk-shaped top wall 12. The float 11is preferably formed with material of light specific gravity so as to beelevatable by its buoyancy produced by the accumulated drain or in alightweight construction so as to be upwardly floatably by the airconfined therewithin. I

A magnetic device 14 is mounted on the upper surface of the top wall 12and the upper part of the primary drain reservoir 2 corresponding withsaid upper surface respectively.

The magnetic device 14 comprises a magnetic iron plate 15 secured to theupper surface of the top wall 12 and a magnet 16 secured to the upperpart of the primary drain reservoir 2.

The float 11 is free from the influence of the magnetic device 14 untilsaid float 11 reaches a predetermined level from its lowered position.The magnet 16 attracts the iron plate 15 when it is brought within thescope of magnetic attraction as a result of the elevation of the float11 up to the predetermined level, whereby the float 1 l is elevatedrapidly with predetermined momentum.

In the center of the underside of the top wall 12 of the float 11 isformed a cylindrical member 18 having a closed bottom wall 17 so as toproject downwardly, in the cylindrical member 18 being adapted so as tobe movable up and down a valve member 20 penetrating through a smallhole 19 provided on the bottom wall 17.

When the float 11 is at its lowered position, the valve member 20 islowered by its dead weight thereby closing by its lower end the draindischarge port 5, a large diameter head 21 being formed at the upper endof the valve member 20 located within the cylindrical member 18 for theprevention of escape of said valve member 20 through the small hole 19.

The relation between the float 11 and the valve member 20 is as follows:As the float 11 is rapidly elevated with momentum after it is elevatedto a predetermined level and the iron plate 15 is brought within thescope of magnetic attraction of the magnet 16, the bottom wall 17 isbrought into abutment against the head 21, the valve member 20 beingelevated with the elevation of the float 11 by means of the magneticdevice 14, whereby the drain discharge port 5 is released.

The cylinder device 8 formed on each side of the upper part of the trapbody 1 comprises a cylinder chamber 22 provided in the upper part withinsaid trap body 1, a penetration hole 23 leading from the cylinderchamber 22 to the primary drain reservoir 2, and a piston 24 slidablybuilt in the cylinder chamber 22.

To the piston 24 is secured a rod 25 fittable into the penetration hole23, the lower end of the rod 25 appearing or disappearing relative tothe primary drain reservoir 2 as the piston 24 is lowered or elevated.

The lower end of the rod 25 is pushed upwardly by the action of thepressure of high pressure gas flowing into the primary drain reservoir2, whereby the piston 24 is ordinarily located at its elevated position,each cylinder device 8 being so disposed that the prolongation of thelower end of the rod 25 corresponds with the upper surface of the topwall 12 of the float 11.

The upper part of the cylinder chamber 22 is communicably connected tothe end part of the secondary drain reservoir 3 by means of a passage 26formed in the trap body 1 so that the piston 24 is lowered by thepressure of high pressure gas flowing into the secondary drain reservoir3.

When the piston is lowered, the lower end of the rod 25 pressesdownwardly the float l1 sustained at its highest position as a result ofadherence of the iron plate to the magnet 16 thereby severing said float11 from the magnet 16, whereby the drain discharge port 5 is closed bythe valve member 20.

The function of this apparatus in the foregoing embodiment will bedescribed in detail hereinunder.

In the embodiment the drain influx hole 6 formed on the drain body 1communicably connects to a drain discharge hole of an air filterprovided intermediately on the piping of high pressure gas.

The liquid drain condensed and separated from high pressure gas by theair filter flows into the primary drain reservoir 2 from the influx hole6 through the passage 7 together with the high pressure gas.

Since the discharge port 5 is closed by the valve member 20, the drainis accumulated in the primary drain reservoir 2 as it flows thereinto,the float ll alone being elevated leaving the valve member as it stands.

When the float 11 is elevated with an increase of the accumulated drainand the float 11 reaches a position sufficient to be pulled upwardly bythe magnetic force of the magnet 16, the float 11 is rapidly elevated bythe attraction of the magnet 16.

As the float 11 is rapidly elevated with momentum, the bottom wall 17 isbrought into abutment against the head 21 of the valve member 20, thusthe valve member 20 being pulled upwardly with the elevation of thefloat 11, as a result of which the drain discharge port Sis openedthereby permitting the drain under pressure within the primary drainreservoir 2 to flow into the secondary drain reservoir 3.

The float ll is sustained at its highest position by the attraction ofthe magnet 16 even when the drain surface is lowered, whereby the draindischarge port 5 continues to be released from the valve member 20.

The drain discharged from the drain discharge port 5 is accumulated inthe secondary drain reservoir 3, said drain being released outwardlyfrom the drain release holes 9, 9 of the bottom of the trap body 1.

When the primary drain reservoir 2 is evacuated after a continuation ofrelease of the drain from the release holes 9, 9, high pressure gasflows into the secondary drain reservoir 3.

The drain flowing from the primary drain reservoir 2 into the secondarydrain reservoir 3 is under pressure, and therefore the outflux amount ofsaid drain is greater than that of the drain from the release holes 9,9. As a result, high pressure gas flows into the secondary drainreservoir 3 while the drain is accumulated therein, the high pressuregas acting upon the cylinder chambers 22 through the passages on bothsides of the trap body 1 thereby pushing the pistons 24 downwardly.

The float 11 is severed from the magnet 16 by the de scent of thepistons 24, the released float 11 being lowered by its dead weight toits lowest position, simultaneously the valve member being loweredthereby closing the discharge port 5.

Now, the primary drain reservoir 2 is again placed under pressure, eachpiston 24 being restored to its elevated position, the drain within thesecondary drain reservoir 3 being discharged completely, whereby theautomatic drain discharge process is accomplished.

As described hereinbefore, the float is not adapted to directly open orclose the discharge port, but all that is required of it is to havebuoyancy sufficient to resist its own dead weight. This enables toreduce the volume of the float as well as that of the trap body.

Moreover, since the drain discharge port is released by an externalforce, namely, the magnet, the release actuation force is remarkablygreat. As a result, the size of the discharge port can be enlarged to acertain extent so as to prevent the dust or the like contained in thedrain from blocking said port.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic drain trap characterized in that it comprises a primarydrain reservoir communicably connected by a drain discharge port to asecondary drain reservoir equipped with drain release holes; a floatbuilt in the primary drain reservoir so as to be elevatable in saidreservoir by its buoyancy as the drain is accumulated therein; amagnetic device located on the upper surface of the float and thecorresponding surface of the upper part of the primary drain reservoirrespectively, the magnetic device being adapted to further elevate withmomentum the float already elevated to a predetermined position; a valvemember elevatably sustained in the float so as ordinarily to close thedrain discharge port, the valve member opening the discharge port bybeing pulled upwardly by the float when said float is rapidly elevatedwith momentum; and cylinder devices located above the float and actuatedby the pressure in the secondary drain reservoir, the cylinder devicesbeing adapted to lower the float by severing it from the magnetic deviceso as to close the drain discharge port.

1. AN AUTOMATIC DRAIN TRAP CHARACTERIZED IN THAT IT COMPRISES A PRIMARYDRAIN RESERVOIR COMMUNICABLY CONNECTED BY A DRAIN DISCHARGE PORT TO ASECONDARY DRAIN RESERVOIR EQUIPPED WITH DRAIN RELEASE HOLES, A FLOATBUILT IN THE PRIMARY DRAIN RESERVOIR SO AS TO BE ELEVATABLE IN SAIDRESERVOIR BY ITS BUOYANCY AS THE DRAIN IS ACCUMULATED THEREIN, AMAGNETIC DEVICE LOCATED ON THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE FLOAT AND THECORRESPONDING SURFACE OF THE UPPER PART OF THE PRIMARY DRAIN RESERVOIRRESPECTIVELY, THE MAGNETIC DEVICE BEING ADAPTED TO FURTHER ELEVATE WITHMOMENTUM THE FLOAT ALREADY ELEVATED TO A PREDETERMINED POSITION, A VALVEMEMBER ELEVATABLY SUSTAINED IN THE FLOAT SO AS ORDINARILY TO CLOSE THEDRAIN DISCHARGE PORT, THE VALVE MEMBER OPENING THE DISCHARGE PORT BYBEING PULLED UPWARDLY BY THE FLOAT WHEN SAID FLOAT IS RAPIDLY ELEVATEDWITH